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Queens Hangs Tough, But Falls to No. 5 Limestone

from press release

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – After battling
back-and-forth over the first three quarters, No. 5 Limestone (2-0,
0-0 CC) exploded for five fourth quarter goals, including three in
50 seconds, to post a 9-6 victory over Queens (0-2, 0-0 SAC) in an
NCAA Division II men's lacrosse game on Tuesday, February 11. The
entire game was played during the early effects of Winter Storm
Pax, slowing down both team's offenses.

Sophomore attack Kyle Rhatigan (Holbrook, N.Y.) led the Saints with
four points on a pair of goals and two assists, along with two
groundballs, while sophomore attack Vinny Ricci (Port Moody,
British Columbia, Canada) and sophomore midfielder Mike Messenger
(Surrey, British Columbia, Canada) each had each two scores. Ricci
also added a pair of caused turnovers and a groundball.

A back-and-forth affair the whole way, the Saints and Royals would
enter the fourth period deadlocked at 4-4 as every goal came at a
premium. After an exchange of goals by Limestone's Peete and
Queens' Garrett Chan left the scored tied at 5-5 with 8:08
remaining the game would change dramatically.

Beginning with 5:43 left on the clock, the Saints late game offense
struck again as they drilled three goals in a span of just 50
seconds. Mike Messenger notched that first goal and was followed
just eight seconds later by Vinny Ricci.

Colton Watkinson then put the cap on the burst as he delivered the
third goal at 4:53 to take it from a tie to an 8-5 Saints lead.
They would stretch it to a four-goal margin on a Kyle Rhatigan
score at 1:30 before QUC's Casey Hock found the back of the net at
the 1:11 mark to reach the final margin of 9-6.

Faced with slick turf and unusual winter weather for the area,
neither team could get their offense going in the opening quarter.
That would be the first time Limestone had experienced a quarter in
which neither team scored since April 17, 2009 when they defeated
Belmont Abbey 7-4 in the Conference Carolinas Semifinals. That game
saw the scoreless period in the fourth quarter.

After the scoreless stanza, both teams combined for six goals in
the second as Messenger opened the scoring at 14:22 and was
followed by the Royals' Hock just over a minute later. Vinny Ricci
gave the Saints back the lead at 2-1 with 6:12 on the clock but
Queens responded with back-to-back goals to retake the lead at the
46 second mark.

Seeming like they'd take that lead to the half, QUC was taken by
surprise as Rhatigan delivered the equalizer with one second left
on the clock for a 3-3 tie at the break. The third quarter would
not see nearly the amount of scoring that the second did as the
Royals' Justin Kestler found the back of the cage at 10:15 for a
4-3 lead. That wouldn't last long as Nakasuji notched the tying
goal at the 8:30 mark, setting up the wild fourth quarter
finish.

Hock led Queens with a pair of goals and Matthew Michael had a
goal, assist and two groundballs while Garrett Chan had a
goal and two groundballs. Kestler and Evan Farkas recorded solo
goals to round out the Royals' top performers.

Limestone returns to action this weekend as they host Saint Leo on
Sunday, February 16. Face off for that contest is set for 12 p.m.
at the Upper Practice Field.

NOTES
Limestone now holds an 11-1 all-time record against Queens dating
back to the first meeting on April 14, 2004.